A RARE LACQUER COSMETIC BOX AND COVER WITH CRANES, MINOGAME AND SHOCHIKUBAI Japan, late 17th to early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The cosmetic box with a domed overhanging kabusebuta cover, covered in fine and densely sprinkled nashiji lacquer, and decorated with gold and silver takamaki-e and hiramaki-e, as well as some aogai (mother-of-pearl) inlays, depicting cranes and minogame amongst pine trees, bamboo, and plum blossoms (also known as the three friends of winter, shochikubai). The inside of nashiji. SIZE 8.2 x 8.5 x 8.5 cm Condition: Good condition with minor expected surface wear and old wear to lacquer, some minor surface scratches on the cover, tiny losses to aogai inlays. Provenance: Ex-collection Claudio Perino, a collector with a keen interest in Japanese, Chinese and Far Eastern cultures. His collection consists of over 2000 works of art, partly loaned to the Museum of Oriental Arts (MAO) in Turin, Italy and to the Museo delle Culture (MUSEC) in Lugano, Switzerland. An exhibition of Kakemono scroll paintings was on view in the MUSEC until end of April 2021.